Thursday, May 31, 2012

Hong Kong


Hong Kong is a very interesting place because it is a mixed bag and can cater to anyone with different needs. It can be a historical place, many places and buildings that has seen the better part of the last few centuries, it can be hip and trendy with top of the line fashion and colourful night life, it can be cheap whether it is food or fake imitation products from China, it can be expensive with world class hotels and restaurants, there is just a lot happening in Hong Kong on a daily basis. Seems like a great place but all at a cost, but what is it? It is a cost that is only paid for by the people living there, the cost of housing has sky rocketed and most hopeful young couples looking to purchase a place of their own usually have their dreams shattered by the constantly rising private housing costs. There are two main reasons why housing is as it is. Firstly the population in HK is pushing through 7 million and counting. HK is not the biggest country in the world and everyone wants to live at the same convenient locations, so it is just a matter of time that the prices of houses will go mad. Secondly the government in HK is not so keen on public housing and would rather let the people fight for themselves, so private housing corporations has pretty much taken over HK and squeezed every last ounce of money they can out of people there. It is a great place if only you don't live there, make sense?


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IKEA

Everyone around the globe knows what IKEA is and I'm sure you would have a piece or two of their furniture in your house. It is the world's largest furniture retailer. They sell practically everything you would need in a house, whether you like everything there it is another story. The company was founded in 1943 by a 17yo Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden, the name IKEA is an acronym derived from the founder's name and place he came from, Ingvar Kamprad, farm where he grew up - Elmtaryd, and his hometown - Agunnaryd in South Sweden. The furniture they provide is not only practical, some are stylish, often embracing a minimalist approach, whats more they are mostly interchangable and customers can mix and match to their hearts' content. However most of all in the last picture here you will see why they have become the world's largest furniture retailer.




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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Coffee


Coffee, a bitter acidic beverage enjoyed by people all over the world. It's one of the most consumed drinks in the world. There are numerous ways to enjoy coffee, americano, long black, short black, latte, mocha, iced, cappuccino, frappicino, flat white just to name a few common ones. A coffee shot by itself is mainly bitter and acidic, depending on the bean and roast of coffee. Not all people enjoy the bitter and acidic taste of coffee, thats why it comes in so many variations and most would also add sugar to sweeten the deal.
Coffee bean is the nut from coffee cherries of coffee plants. The flesh of the cherry is washed off leaving the coffee bean, the bean is then roasted to taste and finally grounded into powder to make coffee. As you'd probably guessed by now, I'm a bit addicted to the stuff, I usually drink two cups per day, morning and night. Wherever I go I can't live without the stuff, so the above is a collage of coffees from my travels.

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